Lose weight quickly diet plan

If you want to lose weight fast and intend on dropping your calorie intake significantly, you need to ensure that the food you do eat is high in nutrients. If you choose to eat foods of low nutritional value, you risk failing in your weight loss efforts as your body struggles to carry out its vital day-to-day functions without the nutrients it needs.

CARBOHYDRATES

• Chard, collard greens, kale, spinach, mustard greens
• Bell peppers
• Brussels sprouts
• Baked potatoes
• Sweet potatoes
• Yams
• Raspberries, strawberries, cantaloupe and papaya,
• Barley, oats, brown rice and quinoa

PROTEIN

• Eggs
• Low-fat yogurt
• Seeds (flax, pumpkin, sunflower and sesame)
• Dried beans (kidney, navy, garbanzo, pinto)
• Peas, lentils
• Almonds, cashews, peanuts

DAILY NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS

CALORIE LEVEL

< 1, 200
Calories

1, 400
Calories

1, 600
Calories

1, 800
Calories

Fruits

1 cup

1.5 cups

Vegetables

2 cups

2.5 cups

Grains*

4 ounce

5 ounce

6 ounce

Lean meat and beans**

3 ounce

Dairy (fat-free or low-fat)***

3 cups

Oils

17 g

22 g

24 g

Discretionary calories

171

132

195

*1 ounce = ½ cup cooked rice, pasta, or cooked cereal; 1 ounce dry pasta or rice; 1 slice bread; 1 small muffin; 1 cup ready-to-eat cereal flakes.
**1 ounce = 1 ounce of lean meat, poultry, or fish; 1 egg; ¼ cup cooked dry beans or tofu; 1 tablespoon peanut butter; ½ ounce nuts or seeds.
***1 cup = 1 cup milk or yogurt; 1.5 ounces natural cheese or 2 ounces processed cheese.

Source: USDA Food Guide, Appendix A-2, Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005.

1, 000 CALORIE SAMPLE MENU

Although you may want to lose weight fast, 1, 000 calories per day veering dangerously on the low side. Generally 1, 000 calories per day is only suitable for a small framed/ medium height woman engaging in little exercise.

Breakfast

• 8 oz nonfat yogurt
• ½ cup kiwi
• ½ cup papaya
• 1 oz walnuts
• 4 oz skim milk

Lunch (Tuna Salad)

• 1 chopped apple
• 3 oz water packed tuna (drained)
• 2 celery sticks (sliced)
• 2 cups lettuce leaves
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt
• 4 chopped walnuts

Dinner (Chicken)

• 1/2 avocad
• 2 oz cooked chicken (chopped)
• 2 cups shredded dark green lettuce
• 6 cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 cup sliced red/ orange pepper
• 1 thinly sliced red onion
• dressing made with 1 tbsp. olive oil, balsamic vinegar and pepper

1, 200 CALORIE SAMPLE MENU

This is a 1, 200-calorie sample menu, which will help you to lose weight fast. You can adapt it to suit your needs. Basically, when the amount of food you eat is dramatically reduced, you need to pay careful attention to what you are eating to keep your nutrient intake high.

Breakfast (Banana Smoothie)

(Blend ingredients together)

• 1 cup [8 oz] plain, low-fat yogurt
• 1 tsp honey
• 1/2 banana
• 1 cup fresh/frozen berries
• 1 tbsp flaxseeds

Lunch (Green Salad)

• 1 cup dark green lettuce
• 1 red/ orange pepper
• ½ cup edamame beans
• 1 cup grape tomatoes
• 1 tbsp. unsalted sunflower seeds.
• Salad dressing made with 1 tbsp. olive oil, balsamic vinegar and pepper

And 1 small whole-wheat pita

Dinner (Salmon)

• 4 oz broiled wild salmon with yogurt sauce
• Yogurt sauce: 1 tbsp. Greek-style non-fat yogurt, 1 tsp. lemon juice, 1 clove chopped garlic.
• ¼ cup cooked barley and ¼ cup cooked lentils with spices to taste
• 1 cup steamed baby bok choy

This food plan is low in calories but full of essential vitamins and minerals to meet your body’s needs. Vitamins include: Vitamin A, C, E, K, B6, B12, Niacin, Riboflavin, Thiamin, Folate and Pantothenic acid. Minerals include: Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Selenium, Zinc and Potassium.